Police believe Cherryville vandal was motivated by logging dispute

CHERRYVILLE - Police believe a recent act of vandalism was motivated by a controversial logging operation in Cherryville.

Heavy equipment belonging to the company contracted to build a logging road in the Cherry Ridge area was vandalized sometime around Jan. 13, Lumby Cpl. Henry Proce says. The construction of the road is part of a project by B.C. Timber Sales to log 190 hectares of forest. Locals have protested the project citing public safety and environmental concerns. Proce believes someone “took matters into their own hands” with vandalism.

“This is a criminal act and an unfortunate turn of events in what was previously a civil dispute,” Proce says.

Damage to one of the excavators is estimated at $2,500. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Lumby RCMP detachment or Crimestoppers.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.